Unravelling the Chemotaxonomic Identity of “White” and “Black” Oregano (Origanum vulgare) in Northern Greece

Dimitrios Mertzanidis; Alexandros Nakas; Andreana N. Assimopoulou; Stella Kokkini

doi:10.1055/a-1949-8895

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 2023; 89(04): 433-440
DOI: 10.1055/a-1949-8895

Natural Product Chemistry & Analytical Studies

Original Papers

Unravelling the Chemotaxonomic Identity of “White” and “Black” Oregano (Origanum vulgare) in Northern Greece

Authors

Dimitrios Mertzanidis

¹Laboratory of Systematic Botany and Phytogeography, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

³Natural Products Research Center of Excellence, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Alexandros Nakas

²Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

³Natural Products Research Center of Excellence, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Andreana N. Assimopoulou

²Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

³Natural Products Research Center of Excellence, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Stella Kokkini

¹Laboratory of Systematic Botany and Phytogeography, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

³Natural Products Research Center of Excellence, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Abstract

The two types of oregano used by the inhabitants of the villages of Μount Belles (GR1260001), the “white” oregano with white flowers and “black” oregano with purple flowers, were studied. The two oregano types were collected from five localities along an altitudinal gradient from 217 m up to 1299 m. “White” oregano, was found in the three lowland regions (up to 752 m) where the Pannonian-Balkanic turkey oak-sessile oak forest habitat (code 91M0) dominates. The “black” oregano was collected from the two higher altitudes, at 1177 m and 1299 m, where the Asperulo-Fagetum beech forest habitat (9130) occurs. Measurements of the density and size of peltate glandular hairs (sessile glands) on calyces, bracts, and leaves suggest that “white” oregano is distinguished by its conspicuous – apparently larger – glands. These differences were reflected in the total essential oil content, with the “white” oregano being much richer (up to 4.3 mL/100 g dry weight) than the “black” (up to 0.6%). Striking differences have also been found in the volatile fraction of their essential oil composition. The “white” oregano oils were characterized by the high content of carvacrol (up to 92.6% of identified peaks, by Headspace GC-MS). On the other hand, the two “black” oregano oils have a different aromatic profile, first reported from Greece, with main components including the sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene, D-germacrene, δ-cadinene and β-bisabolene. The results so far indicate that “white” and “black” oregano, Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum and subsp. vulgare respectively, can be clearly distinguished either by their morphological (glandular) differences or by chemical (essential oil) composition.

Key words

Origanum vulgare - Lamiaceae - “white” oregano - “black” oregano - habitat type - peltate glandular trichomes - Headspace GC-MS

Full Text

References

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